The Senate health committee advanced a massive bill to lower health costs. And on another panel, the Senate Finance Committee, leaders are working on a plan to limit drug price increases. Also, a filing from a federal appeals court is opening new questions about the Texas ObamaCare lawsuit.

We'll start with drug pricing news...

Senate Finance leaders in talks on deal to limit drug price increases

There are some highly consequential changes to drug pricing under discussion in the Senate Finance Committee.

What's in it: The measure protects patients from getting massive "surprise" medical bills when they get care from out-of-network doctors and restricts anti-competitive provisions in insurance contracts with hospitals that can drive up costs.

A statement from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit issued Wednesday asks whether a coalition of blue states and the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives have standing to appeal a lower court ruling that struck down ObamaCare as unconstitutional.

In order to bring a lawsuit, a party has to have legal standing, meaning they are sufficiently affected by the issue at hand in order to seek relief from a court.

Nicholas Bagley, a law professor at the University of Michigan, wrote on Twitter that the statement from the court is an "ominous sign" for ObamaCare.

What it means: If neither the blue states, led by California, nor the U.S. House have standing to appeal, then it is possible no one could appeal the lower court ruling from a conservative judge in Texas that struck down the entire Affordable Care Act.

The blue states and the House could then take their case to the Supreme Court, but they would have to argue the standing issue there as well.

"We can't even pay for Medicare for some and to go Medicare for All, we can't take care of those who are depending on it right now," Manchin said at The Hill's Future of Healthcare Summit.

"That's an inspirational novel idea," Manchin said of the proposal that is sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is running for president.

Why it matters: Manchin's comments come on the day of the Democratic Party's first presidential debate, where Medicare for All is expected to be a major talking point. It shows that Democrats are far from united on the issue of single-payer.

"The bill will empower courts to limit the number of patents that branded drug manufacturers can use to prevent more affordable alternatives from coming to market. Under the revised version, branded drug manufacturers would be able to assert no more than 20 patents during litigation that are unrelated to the efficacy of the drug or its use."

How much should a "miracle" drug cost? A wave of innovation is bringing on new breakthrough treatments for terrible diseases, but also record highs in the prices of those medicines. The challenge will only mount as more drugs are developed.

One recent example: Zolgensma, which was just approved in May. It provides a crucial functioning gene for people with spinal muscular atrophy who otherwise would have their muscles break down. With a one-time treatment, the drug has the potential to treat patients for a lifetime. But it costs $2.1 million, making it the world's most expensive drug.

To patients with a fatal disease, almost any price could seem worth it for a cure. But the health care system as a whole would strain to afford massive sums for a whole range of drugs.

Lawmakers are confronting these questions as they craft legislation aimed at lowering drug prices, a rare area of possible bipartisan cooperation this year. Lawmakers have floated different ideas, including allowing Medicaid to pay for expensive drugs over time, rather than all at once. House Democrats, meanwhile, want Medicare to directly negotiate prescription drug prices.